S2_E10_Video_Self-Actualization

The Warrior’s Ascent Podcast: From Healing to High-Performance

S2:E10 Self-Actualization: What one can be one must be

- Abraham Maslow Meaning in life

Most people are familiar with Maslow's hierarchy of needs (food, water, shelter, security, etc). Most however are unfamiliar with what is at the top of the pyramid. Self-Actualization.

Legacy: Contribution, Achievement, Value (personal value proposition)

Purpose: Why were you put on this earth? Potential Mission: How are you applying your purpose today/at this moment? Message/narrative/story: Hero's Journey Identity/Character/Virtues: How do you want to show up?

Self-actualization is a concept in psychology that was popularized by Abraham Maslow in his hierarchy of needs theory. Self-actualization has also been described as: the psychological process aimed at maximizing the use of a person’s abilities and resources.

This process may vary from one person to another (Couture et al., 2007). In other words, self-actualization can generally be thought of as the full realization of one’s creative, intellectual, and social potential through internal drive (versus for external rewards like money, status, or power).

Maslow proposed that human motivation is driven by a hierarchy of needs, with the most basic physiological needs at the bottom and the highest level being self-actualization.

Here's a breakdown of Maslow's hierarchy of needs and a discussion of self-actualization:

1. **Physiological Needs:** These are the basic necessities for survival, such as food, water, shelter, and sleep. Until these needs are met, individuals are primarily motivated by a desire to satisfy them.

2. **Safety Needs:** Once physiological needs are satisfied, people seek safety and security. This includes physical safety, health, employment, and property.

3. **Love and Belongingness Needs:** Social needs come next, involving the desire for interpersonal relationships, love, and a sense of belonging. This includes family, friendships, and intimate relationships.

4. **Esteem Needs:** Once social needs are met, individuals seek self-esteem and the esteem of others. This involves gaining recognition, achievement, and feeling competent and valued.

5. **Self-Actualization:** At the top of the hierarchy is self-actualization. Maslow described it as the realization of one's full potential and the pursuit of personal growth, creativity, and fulfillment. This is the need to become the most that one can be.

Self-actualization is a complex and subjective concept. Maslow identified certain characteristics associated with self-actualized individuals: -

**Realism:** Self-actualized individuals are realistic about themselves and others.

- **Problem Solving:** They are proficient at solving problems and seek solutions to ethical and personal problems.

- **Autonomy:** They exhibit a high degree of autonomy, resisting conformity and being self-directed.

- **Spontaneity:** Self-actualized individuals are spontaneous, creative, and open to new experiences.

- **Acceptance:** They accept themselves and others without judgment.

- **Peak Experiences:

** Self-actualized individuals often have "peak experiences" where they feel intense joy, creativity, and a sense of unity with the universe. It's important to note that not everyone reaches the level of self-actualization, and Maslow acknowledged that only a small percentage of the population achieves this state.

Additionally, the hierarchy is not rigid, and individuals may move up and down the levels based on their circumstances and life experiences. Self-actualization in the context of Maslow's hierarchy of needs represents the pinnacle of human psychological development, encompassing the realization of one's potential, personal growth, and the pursuit of meaningful and fulfilling experiences.

Key take-aways: -Top of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is self-actualization: "What one can be, one must be."

-Full realization of one’s creative, intellectual, and social potential through internal drive (versus for external rewards like money, status, or power). Maslow proposed that human motivation is driven by a hierarchy of needs, with the most basic physiological needs at the bottom and the highest level being self-actualization.

-Legacy -Purpose -Mission -Identity, Character, Virtues